Potential exists despite the challenges
This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 3 2024
Aquaculture in Georgia is focused on trout, carp, sturgeon, and catfish. Companies are trying new species and novel ways of adding value to their production to generate more from less. Issues remain, however, but there is an interest among stakeholders in resolving them to allow the sector to reach its full potential.
Analysing the possibility of developing a national aquaculture sector, the Georgian government concluded that Georgia with its abundant water resources had ample potential to develop fish and shellfish farming. According to the FAO, the Black Sea, rivers, reservoirs, and lakes all contribute to the country’s water resources. These include 5,000 km of rivers (the 90 most important) 17,000 ha of lakes, 23,000 ha of reservoirs, and 1,300 km of irrigation canals. In addition, the Georgian coastline is over 300 km long. The study recommended starting with the creation of a legal framework to ensure a stable base for this new sector. Accordingly, the Law on Aquaculture was drafted, examined by international experts from the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean), and finally enacted in July 2020.
Creation of a legislative framework
Among other features, the law defines the terms used in aquaculture for the different technologies and methodologies applied. In addition, it addresses a wide range of topics, which together should create an environment that is favourable to the continued growth of aquaculture. Chapter IV of the law addresses mariculture, defined as “aquaculture in marine waters”, several provisions are related to the state management of aquaculture (Art. 4); mariculture (Art. 11); aquaculture permits (Art. 12); Aquaculture Inter-Agency Council (Art. 5); the plan for managing zones allocated for aquaculture (Art. 13); and transitional provisions (Art. 40). The law on aquaculture gives the National Environmental Agency (NEA) the responsibility to coordinate the process of awarding permits to carry out aquaculture operations, as also mentioned in the draft aquaculture strategy. To ensure the sustainable development of the sector, the Georgian government appealed to international partners to help the country solve several important challenges. As a result, internationally funded projects were implemented in Georgia.
Value chain analysis for fresh water aquaculture suggests potential for growth
The project Fresh Water Aquaculture Value Chain Analysis in Georgia, funded by the European Union was executed in 2022. (https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/projects/value-chain-analysis-for-development-vca4d/info/235-georgia-freshwater-aquaculture). The VCA4D study consisted of four analyses: 1) functional, 2) economic, 3) social, and 4) environmental. The analysis is based on multiple information sources, including primary and secondary data. The purpose of a value chain analysis is to provide decision-makers with evidence-based information that indicates whether the value chain fosters inclusive growth and whether it is socially and environmentally sustainable. The analysis suggested that there was potential for growth in the aquaculture sector as only 30-40% of the potential of ponds and basins was being utilised. Trout, carp and catfish, and sturgeon are the main species produced.
Activities conducted in the framework of the project Support to Environmental Protection and Fight against Climate Change in Georgia (ENI/2022/433-066) included the promotion of aquaculture development in Georgia. Under the project, areas in the Black Sea were identified for the development of marine aquaculture in Georgia, a completely new direction for Georgian aquaculture. The zones allocated for aquaculture were approved by a resolution adopted by the Georgian government, and today local and foreign investors have the opportunity to conduct farming activities in the designated aquaculture zones. Currently, under the same project, aquaculture management areas (AMA) are being designated for inland aquaculture, which is also a new direction for the development of the aquaculture industry in Georgia.
Strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture in Georgia
The draft strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture in Georgia was prepared by the Georgian Aquaculture Task Force comprising MEPA (Ministry of Environmental Protection
and Agriculture), FAO, and supported by the European Union and FAO under the EU ENPARD Programme. The strategy was released in February 2023 and is essential to set the overall vision and key priorities for Georgia. The objective of the strategy was to draw the roadmap for the development of aquaculture in Georgia (freshwater and marine water) and put forward four strategic objectives:
– Improve the legal framework (government);
– Promote the growth and reinforcement of the aquaculture sector (production);
– Support development of trade and marketing for aquaculture products (market and aquafood);
– Achieve social acceptability (social aspects).
In 2023, a public hearing in the form of a workshop Presentation of national aquaculture development strategy of Georgia was organised with the participation of all stakeholders. Following the workshop the strategy is now scheduled to be adopted.
Georgian aquaculture enjoys support from the GFCM
GFCM, which is involved in the planning and implementation of all the measures described above, provides active support for the sustainable development of Georgian aquaculture. In addition, GFCM plans to implement several projects that will help strengthen governmental and non-governmental organisations promoting the sustainable development of aquaculture in the country, while MEPA continues to actively cooperate with all stakeholders in the field of aquaculture.
While trout, carp, and catfish are the main species farmed in Georgia, some companies are also producing more exotic fish. Guriafish, for example, is the first Georgian company to produce Norwegian salmon. The aquaculture expert responsible for the production, Revaz Nikoleishvili, says it is about innovation. With modern technologies, we produce salmon in reservoirs filled with Black Sea water creating the best environment for growing healthy fish. The company’s story began with an idea—that Georgia should be included in the list of leading Norwegian salmon-producing countries. The Curia region, with its geographical location, Black Sea shores and towering mountains, is one of the most attractive areas in terms of aquaculture development. Since Norwegian salmon has never been produced in Georgia or even in the region, this project will make a significant contribution to the development of this sector. At the farm, tanks are filled from the river Bzhuzhi. Ultraviolet is used to eliminate bacteria and parasites. The water is then cooled and filtered before being supplied to raceways. It is important that we maintain a continuous supply of treated river water to the raceways, says Mr Nikoleishvili. The water is completely renewed once an hour and does not recirculate, which creates a very clean environment for fish. In addition, water temperature and oxygen saturation are continuously measured with sensors and in case of need the water is enriched with oxygen.
Atlantic salmon grown in the Black Sea
In August 2019, for the first time, the hatchery received eggs of Norwegian salmon and of three species of trout. The hatchery has tanks of different sizes, and the transfer of salmon larvae takes place in several stages, according to their weight. At the hatchery, the fish grow for six months, until the individual weighs 50-60 grams. Thereafter, the fingerlings continue the growing process on a Black Sea farm. After the successful implementation of the hatchery project, the Guriafish team started building a farm on the Black Sea coast, in the village of Tskaltsminda, Guria District. This location was selected to grow Norwegian salmon in the Black Sea. There are several concrete reservoirs of different sizes on the Black Sea farm. Sea water is collected 500 meters from the coast, from a depth of 40 m and delivered to the reservoirs through pipes. The water supply process is continuous; as a result, the seawater in the tanks is completely renewed once an hour. We monitor water temperature, salt content, and oxygen saturation using sensors, says Mr Nikoleishvili. The used water is cleaned and flows back into the sea, 250 meters from the beach. The fish from the hatchery are distributed in the relevant sized tanks and are moved to larger tanks as they grow. They are maintained on the Black Sea farm altogether for 1.5-2 years reaching a final weight of 2 to 5 kg. Our farm operates in a completely innovative way, Mr Nikoleishvili explains. The system is open, at the same time the fish is grown in isolation, in tanks filled with seawater. The used water returned to the sea filtered and purified. In addition, we use a premium feed produced by the Danish company, Aller Aqua. As a result, we produce our fish with minimal impact on the environment. The novelty of the project has even unlocked support from the state in the form of a preferential agricultural loan worth GEL1.5 m (EUR532,000).
As some of these innovative companies show Georgian aquaculture is gradually fulfilling its potential, but much remains to be done to relieve structural bottlenecks including a lack of experts in critical fields such as fish pathology. With support from the EU and international bodies, however, these issues can be addressed over time fostering the further development of the sector.
Nino Chobaniani
Georgian Fish Farmers Association
ninoch62@mail.ru